This afternoon a guy backed into my wife's car while pulling out of his driveway. The end result is that both doors on the driver's side of the car are puckered in, but still open and close ok.

The police arrived and printed up a "driver's information exchange" form with all the pertinent information on it. The cop also gave my wife the "Illinois motorist report", which I am to fill out and mail to IDOT within ten days...

I suppose my question is this...the man has already accepted fault because he had his insurance agent {Allstate} call us and leave a message. The agent said she would get this taken care of as soon as we want. My insurance is also Allstate, and I just want this brand new car {3000 miles on it} fixed like new.

How should I proceed ???

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The "almighty" Dollar is the true divinity and its worship is universal. A man that over reaches his neighbor but does it so cleverly that the law cannot touch him is considered a "smart man".

That's what I will do. At the body shop I will emphasize that the car is new and I expect the repair to be perfect.

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Allstate will review the damage, do an impressively detailed estimate and, cut you a check if you want, or you can go to the shop they prefer, and they pay the shop directly. If there is additional damage that was concealed, they will review it at the shop and cover the additional expense. Unless a company is clearly attempting to defraud you, additional estimates are a waste of your time, and other shops will probably refuse to do them. Once a shop knows that a reputable company is taking responsibility and has done an estimate, it really doesn't matter if you have others. You get their check and a chance to be paid more if more damage is found.....that's it. BTW, you are probably covered for a rental car that will be charged to the other guy's account.

Allstate will review the damage, do an impressively detailed estimate and, cut you a check if you want, or you can go to the shop they prefer, and they pay the shop directly. If there is additional damage that was concealed, they will review it at the shop and cover the additional expense. Unless a company is clearly attempting to defraud you, additional estimates are a waste of your time, and other shops will probably refuse to do them. Once a shop knows that a reputable company is taking responsibility and has done an estimate, it really doesn't matter if you have others. You get their check and a chance to be paid more if more damage is found.....that's it. BTW, you are probably covered for a rental car that will be charged to the other guy's account.

Interesting information.
One of my concerns was that my wife would be without a car for a few days and would not be able to get to work.

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The "almighty" Dollar is the true divinity and its worship is universal. A man that over reaches his neighbor but does it so cleverly that the law cannot touch him is considered a "smart man".

Your car will ALWAYS have less value now because it has been in an accident and I think will be listed in car reports eventually going out to potential buyers in the future.

I'm of the opinion that with some additional money of your own (3,000 miles worth whatever that might be) that you should negotiate for a new car rather than a repaired one.

Fellow in my home town had a two week old car badly damaged by a kid that set off a string of firecrackers inside of it and pin holed almost the entire interior and stunk it up in the process. The owner demanded to be made whole with a new car, and with very little extra money it was done.

Just my opinion, if you forever want a car with a lower value that is your decision. Understand, you will need to pay too.

Take it to the dealership body shop... Tell Allstate you will not accept anything less, they will cave and pay the dealer. If a car is less than three years old all replacement parts must be OEM (not used, recycled or aftermarket). The dealer already stocks or can order these parts from the factory. I work at a dealership Body Shop which is also an Allstate Pro Shop. You'll never negotiate for a new car, the law is on the side of the insurance company. Repairs will be made and you will receive a LIFETIME warranty from Allstate on the Parts and Repairs. Since you are not the insured (You are the claimant) You will recieve a rental vehicle for the duration of the repairs at no cost to you, there should be no deductable since you are not at fault.

I hit a deer in my new car. Took it to the dealership (this was 8 years ago) for body work. Body shop is so large, allstate has a claims office right there.
Body shop installed a repainted, used door on my car. In the 8 years since the repair, I have taken it back twice to get the rust repaired on the door. It needs it again.
Best advice I can give os to ask if they plan to use new parts, and get a lifetime guarantee for the work. Biggest inconvenience now is to take it back in for a few day, I will be out of a car, and Dh and I both work.

Something that hasn't been mentioned. You can take your car anywhere you want to have it repaired. The other driver is responsible for the damage to your car, not their insurance co. If you want to take it to your own repair shop and make sure it's done right, that's what I'd do, then present the bill to the other driver. If their insurance co. doesn't want to pay the bill, you can sue the other driver for the cost of the repairs. Ultimately the other driver is the one that you have the claim with, not their insurance co. This would be the same as having an uninsured driver hit your car. You'd have to sue the driver.

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If your presence can't add value to my life your absence will make no difference...

Here in CA you are allowed a free rental for a "like" vehicle. If your vehicle is a compact, you can't get a "land yacht" as it were. Some years ago when I was hit on the freeway they tried to give me a compact car to use while my SUV was in the shop...oh no...I'm not driving a "buttdragger" in freeway commute traffice.

It took all afternoon but I finally got a smaller SUV than I drove, but at least it was not the $19 a day special vehicle they wanted to give me. It was listed at $49 a day.

And I firmly believe that had I been in a small compact I'd have been killed as he hit me in a "pit stop" type manuever that would have swung my driver's door into oncoming traffic. There was so much damage it took over 3 weeks to get my vehicle fixed. Frankly I was hoping they'd total it, but it was all cosmetic damage.

Pam

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I've done so much with so little for so long that I'm now qualified to do almost anything with practically nothing.